Voor- en achterzijde van medaille van de academie der tekenkunst te Amsterdam 1765 - 1800

This is Harmanus Vinkeles’ “Obverse and reverse of a medal from the Amsterdam drawing academy,” made sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. The piece is a drawing of a medal given by the Amsterdam drawing academy. During Vinkeles' time, the Dutch art world was deeply intertwined with social and political structures. Art academies played a pivotal role in shaping artistic careers and maintaining certain standards and values. We see this illustrated in the imagery chosen for the medal of the academy. On one side is a seated male figure with a child, and on the other side a laurel wreath. These symbols promoted the artistic values and social norms of the academy, which often catered to the elite. We can consider how academies like the Amsterdam drawing academy reinforced certain power dynamics within the art world, impacting who had access to education, recognition, and opportunities for advancement. Vinkeles, working within this system, reflects both its aspirations and its limitations through his drawing.